Eat Well for Less...Live on MSE

ani*fan

Hi there Flat Eric.

I'm glad you're enjoying the thread. I've found it a massive help this month. About your delivery, if my local supermarkets did delivery well then I would probably say it's worth it to spend a few pounds on delivery rather than going into the shop and spending more, or getting in a really bad mood like I do. The problem here is that the guys who get your shopping are absolutely clueless and bring all kinds of rubbish, swapping deodorant for moisturiser (because it was the same brand?!) and bringing pizza mix instead of pizza. I always need to go in anyway, so it's not worth it.

Best of luck with reducing your bill. I've used most of the tips on this thread and it has worked. Simples.

mirry

I do online shopping every few weeks, I shop for three households which takes a bit of organising. I found the delivery pass isn't worth it. If you don't mind late evening delivery it only costs £1 & then I'm not tied to one company (which means shopping where the best offers are= more savings).

My also husband drives us to different stores, we are lucky to be close to so many and a new lid-l is about to open two roads away from us.
There's a price war going on out there, I've been bombarded with money off vouchers for the big major supermarkets, £10 off £60 spend is the best one, so I'm using it to stock up on bargains

ani*fan

So I've been doing the odd little shop since I last posted, 5 in total, and I'm sat here with receipts having just added it all up. We have enough food in to do us until pay day and beyond (slightly). I have spent £32.79 this past week and a bit. The only thing left to buy is cat litter at £9.29 and I'll get that tomorrow when I have a car from work.

My total for the month (after cat litter purchase) is £142.41.

This is unbelievable!! I have saved over a hundred quid!! Easily!!

I don't even know how to express my gratitude to all you fine people on here who have helped me. You really are amazing. :A All of this knowledge combined is such a powerful force and I am truly grateful to each and every one of you for taking the time to help me.

Now I'm away to work out what I've learned and where I take it from here. I am one happy person today!

ani*fan

Maybe throwing a small party is the answer...

_party_:dance::dance::grouphug::dance::dance:
:beer::grinheart:kisses::j_party_

Thanks everyone!

ani*fan

I'm having a think about what worked for me, mostly so I can take things forward since I'm now addicted to saving money on my food shopping.

Shop at Aldi and other cheap places. The price difference is huge and I think this is where a lot of the saving has happened on everything from fruit and veg to washing up liquid.

Don't ever buy full price quorn, there is no need, it's usually on sale somewhere.

Keep exploring recipes like mirry's burgers, cheap, yummy and quorn free.

Keep putting water on dried food for the old man purrball cat. This is saving me a fortune.

Cheap soya milk is fine, keep exploring the best powdered milk for coffee.

Go easy on fruit. I don't need to binge eat it and feel much better since I stopped.

Never buy branded cleaning products again, there is absolutely no need, others work just as well.

Don't assume OH won't like it, Aldi tortillas were a hit, keep trying and exploring. (We did the blindfold challenge, OH could tell but really liked the new ones. Score!)

I have now discovered the 'feed two people for a week on £7' thread and am completely inspired. This is just the start for me. Every penny I can save will help towards debt and savings and I plan to keep going.

Many hugs to you all, I hope you understand how glad I am for all your help. :A

I hope to continue seeing you all around.

AFxx

Slowly57

Flat_Eric wrote: »

I have been having shopping delivered from both the blue and white supermarket and the nect ar supermarket recently. Splitting my shopping according to what I prefer from each and what's on offer. One of my delivery savers expires in a couple of weeks (blue and white) I can renew using my points for half price which is very tempting but I'm not sure if this is a bit silly so would welcome thoughts. As I said I don't drive and my local supermarket is more a convenienc which means ,\ choice \bulk buying and offers are limited.

Y'know in every comment I read about the vague disquiet about paying for delivery - is that we seldom factor in or value our own time - doh. I don't drive either and have health issues - but even without that I'd still be happy to pay for delivery as I could spend time better doing (and probably saving money doing) other things. That's not to say I don't consider whether the delivery fee is adding value or not.

Nargleblast

Delivery charges, depending on which supermarket and what day or time slot you choose, can range from zero to five or six quid. Think about it.....you get in your car, drive through traffic to the supermarket, drive round trying to find a parking space, grab a trolley, fight your way around the shop with the rest of the world and his dog, queue up at the checkout, unload it all, load it all in again, push it out to the car, load up the car, return the trolley, drive home, unload the car.

Doing an online shop means just being at home during a one or two hour time slot and take in your shopping. Ok, so I prefer to shop for fruit, veg and meat myself, but for everything else the online shop system takes some beating.

PasturesNew

I don't ever have anything home delivered because I couldn't make their minimum order levels. Even if home delivery were free it'd not help.

I can't "stock up...." because, even if one could do that once, you'd then be stocked up of everything for a whole year.

mirry

I've Popped in to see how you got on Anifan, and I'm impressed :T
It's amazing how all the pennies add up.

I seem to be spending £30-£35 a week....so I'm happy with that.
I'm interested in the £7 a week plan, although don't think we could do it with such particular tastes.

[Deleted User]

I too cut back on trips to the shops several years ago, :)it does take a bit of getting used to at first.But well worth the effort Now if I want to go out for some fresh air I just turn right instead of left outside my house, and the local park is five minutes walk away cheaper and far more healthier for both my purse and my waistline .I live literally a few minutes walk from the local small shopping precinct and it was so easy at times just to go there for a wander and mooch around.

Now I try to go actually food shopping only as and when I run out of things, and I have at least 10 things on my shopping list.

My shopping outings are cut down to about three times a month.I live alone so its probably easier for me as I only have myself to feed.I am working my way through my freezer as well in hope of getting it defrosted before Christmas at least
So far this month I have only been shopping once and then only spent just under £18.00 then. I menu plan on a Sunday morning so I know what I am cooking for that week beforehand. My monthly budget is £60.00 and that is for food and nothing else.I have a seperate budget for diesel for my car ,but do my best to try and walk to most place if I can as the exercise is also better for my waistline and my joints